Best of Lower Manhattan Walking Tour, New York

Audio Guide: Best of Lower Manhattan Walking Tour (Self Guided), New York

Every part of Manhattan is terrific, but if you are looking for one that showcases the best overview of New York City’s history and architectural styles, it’s Lower Manhattan. This is where it all started, where New Amsterdam was founded, where Canal Street used to be a canal, and where Wall Street used to be a wall marking the end of town. It’s also where the city has seen the most tragedy, from terrible fires to terrorist attacks that have reshaped the skyline.

Today, it’s a place where the old and new converge, where Colonial churches and classical structures stand in the shadow of high risers, together making for a memorable sight to behold.

Venture down to Lower Manhattan to see how the area came back to life after the heavy blow of September 11, 2001. Hours can be spent discovering newly-developed sites such as the new World Trade Center complex, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, and the adjoining Liberty Park. It’s all very walkable and quite stunning visually! By all means, visit these locations, but keep in mind that most New Yorkers don’t see them as mere tourist attractions.

Look no further than Battery Park for a walk along the water with refreshing views of Staten Island, Lady Liberty, the Staten Island Ferry, and parts of New Jersey. Named for the British cannons that once protected New York, the park has more than twenty statues and monuments, as well as newer attractions like the SeaGlass Carousel, an aquatic-themed merry-go-round.

If you fancy some historic sights, go to Fraunces Tavern where George Washington bid farewell to his troops, the Federal Hall where he took the oath of office as the first US President, or the Trinity Church where he once worshipped.

In the world’s financial capital, you also owe yourself a walk through Wall Street, home of the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ, leading to the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, where you can see the entire city.

To find your way around this plethora of landmarks and not get lost, follow our self-guided walking tour and enjoy your time in New York City!

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Ingfbruno.

How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walks in New York

Map Instructions: (1) Click the "Nearby Sights" button to view the nearby attractions; (2) click a map pin to see sight information.

Guide Name: Best of Lower Manhattan Walking Tour
Guide Location: USA » New York (See other walking tours in New York)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles

Sights Featured in This Walk

WalkBuilder (customize this walk)

Use the WalkBuilder tool below to customize this walk to suit your interests. Instructions: click

at the upper right corner in the map above to view other sights in the city. To learn more about a sight, click a map pin. Click the “+” or “–” to add or remove a sight from the walk. To reorder the selected sights, simply drag and move them up or down the list in the left column.

Click here to view route map

Enter a name for your custom walk, along with your email address, in the fields below. You will receive the instructions for retrieving your custom walk in the GPSmyCity app by email. The GPSmyCity app offers turn-by-turn travel directions to guide you from one attraction to the next.
Walk Name*:
Email*:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I access my walking tour in New York?
Save your walking tour on the website. Then download the GPSmyCity app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and sign in to your GPSmyCity account. Next, download “New York Map and Walking Tours” within the app. Your walk will appear on the Walks screen.

2. How do I view other attractions in New York?
At the upper-right corner of the map above, click the “Nearby Sights” button to show or hide other sights in the city. Click a map pin to view details about a sight. To add a sight to your walk, find it in the right column of the WalkBuilder tool above and click the “+” button next to it.

3. How do I re-arrange the sight order?
In the left column of the WalkBuilder tool, drag a sight to move it up or down the list. Then click “Click here to view route map”. Repeat this process until the route meets your needs.

4. Can I add my hotel to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add your hotel as the starting point, the ending point, or both (creating a loop route). This feature is currently available only in the GPSmyCity app.

5. Can I add my own sights to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add sightss that are not in our database and include them in your walk. To do so, sign in to your GPSmyCity account on the website or use the GPSmyCity app.

6. How many sights can be included in a walking tour?
For technical reasons, the number of sights in a walking tour is currently capped at 20. This limit may be increased over time.

Walking Tours in New York, New York

Create Your Own Walk in New York

Creating your own self-guided walk in New York is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles

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